University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) Academic Department Chairs’ Self-Perceived Utilization of Bolman and Deal’s Four-Frame Theoretical Model - October 2014

Oct 15, 2026

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Study examines which of Bolman and Deal’s four leadership frames academic department chairs (ADCs) prefer within Educational Leadership or Administration programs across University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) member institutions. A secondary aim compares frame preferences by gender, age, racial/ethnic identification, and years of chair experience. Data from 48 ADCs were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings show the Human Resource frame is most preferred, Structural second, Symbolic third, Political least, with no statistically significant differences across personal and professional variables.

LanguageEnglish

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University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) Academic Department Chairs’ Self-Perceived Utilization of Bolman and Deal’s Four-Frame Theoretical Model This manuscript has been peer-reviewed, accepted, and endorsed by the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration (NCPEA) as a significant contribution to the scholarship and practice of school administration and K-12 education. Sonya L. Clark Ronald A. Lindahl Alabama State University This study examined the Bolman and Deal leadership orientation preferred by academic department chairs (ADCs) of Educational Leadership or Administration programs at member colleges and universities of the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA). A secondary purpose of the study was to examine how the preferred frame of the chairs varied according to the ADC’s gender, age, racial/ethnic identification, and years of experience in their current chair position. Data were collected from 48 ADCs of 74 UCEA public and private member institutions using the Leadership Orientations Survey; a questionnaire that measures leadership behaviors, style, and the overall effectiveness of the respondent as a leader and as a manager. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. This study found:(a) the Human Resource Frame is the preferred leadership orientation among ADCs; (b) the second preference is the Structural Frame, the Symbolic Frame was the third preferred orientation, and the least preferred frame was the Political Frame, and (c) there were no statistically significant differences in preferred frames based on personal and professional variables. An additional finding was that all ADCs in this study saw themselves equally balanced as a faculty member and administrator or they perceived themselves as more of an administrator than a faculty member. NCPEA Education Leadership Review of Doctoral Research, Vol. 1, No. 2 – October 2014 ISSN: 1532-0723 © 2014 National Council of Professors of Educational Administration This manuscript may not be used commercially or edited. When quoting portions of this text, attribution to the author/s is required. In colleges and universities, up to 80% of decisions are made by academic department chairs (ADCs) (Carroll & Wolverton, 2004); therefore, it is essential for them to have effective decision-making skills in order to successfully serve their institutions. Decision-makers, when faced with uncertainty, may often rely on familiar ways of making decisions, thereby locking themselves into flawed ways of making sense of their circumstances (Bolman & Deal, 2008); such a short-sighted perspective allows for an increase in the chances of missing alternative opportunities for solutions to complex problems within their organization. Limited information is available on leadership relating to the chair position. Bolman and Deal (2008) proposed that managers have an awareness of how they frame situations and how they view the workplace: as a factory, a jungle, a family, or a temple, because this perception can have an effect on how they make decisions. Much of the research reported in higher education on ADCs focused on the responsibilities and stressors of the position. Moreover, gender is a common variable used in leadership studies (Barbuto, Fratz, Matkin, & Marx, 2007); however, the study of the variableson age, racial/ethnic identification, and years of experience in the current chair position have not been extensively researched. An examination of the effects of these variables on how ADCs make decisions needs to be included in scholarship on the chair position, as well as the discourse on practical training in decision-making for chairs. This study adds to the body of knowledge on how the views of those in university department chair positions impact their decision-making. For university preparation programs, this study may provide a basis for recommending leadership training to department

FAQs

Which leadership frame is preferred most by academic department chairs (ADCs)?

The Human Resource Frame is the preferred leadership orientation among ADCs.

Do frame preferences differ significantly by personal and professional variables?

No statistically significant differences were found in preferred frames based on variables such as gender, age, racial/ethnic identification, and years of experience.

How were the study data collected and analyzed?

Data were collected by administering the Leadership Orientations Survey (Self)© to 74 UCEA member ADCs and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests including independent samples t-tests and ANOVAs, with Cohen’s d (pooled variances version).

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by ahduag